Electbic switch-box



M. FLA-TLAND.

ELECTRIC SWITCH BOX.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20. 1917.

Patented Aug. 26, 1919.v

MARTIN FLATLAND, GF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

ELEGTBIC SWITCH-BOX.

pecicatiun of `Iletters Patent. Patented Aug. 26, 1919.

appnun med laren 20,1917. serial No. 156,176.

To all whom t may concern.' Be it known that I, MARTIN FLATLAND, a citizen of the United States, 'and -a resident of the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have made anew and useful invention, to wit: Improvement in Electric Switch-Boxes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, concise, and exact description of the same.

This inventionv is an improved safety switch for electric circuits, which may be swung open to break the circuit without exposing the live parts and which when open is lprevented from accidentally closing and is prevented from being closed at all except in such way as to prevent exposure of the switch contacts.

In this specification and the annexed drawing I illustrate the inventionin the form which I consider the best, but it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to such form because said invention may be embodied in other forms, and it is also to be understood thatin and by the claims fo1` lowing the description, I desire to cover" the invention in whatever form it may be embodied.

Referring to the accompan ing drawings Figure 1 is a vertical longltudlnal sectlon of the switch in closed position. Fig. 2 is a plan view 0f the switch in open position.

Fig. 3 is al plan view of a portion of the switch showing the means for lockingtha switch closed and for preventing access to the live parts of the switch.

yIn the vdrawing 1 indicates a box having a. cover 2, hinged at 3. In the bottom of the box is secured :1n-ordinary knife switch circuit closer 4, comprising an insulating base 5, terminals, mounted on the base, knife members 7 pivoted at 8l to the terminals 6,' insulating handle bar 9, handle-10,and contacts 11 mounted on the base, into which contacts the knife members engage to close a circuit, the leads of which are to be connected'to said terminals and contacts. Fuse sockets 12may be mounted on the base and interposed in the circuit leads connected to the respective terminals 6. l

The cover of thebox is provided with a longitudinal slot 15,- through which the han- -the insulating mem idle 10 isadapted to proj ect, the end of which slot is enlarged at16 to permit the handle ring-17 to pass through the cover.

Arlockland closing bar 2O is ivoted Iat one end at 21 to the underside o the cover 2, the vother 'end of which is provided withv an arcuate slot 22 struck from the center of pivot 21 through which slot extends' a. screw 23 which screws into the cover 2 and its head engages the under side of the bar and holds the end thereof against the underside of the boxnover. The end of the bar nearits pivot 'is provided with a notch 24 to receive the upper end of switch handle 10 when the switch is closed and a lug 25 isformed on the bar at the end of the `notch which is adapted to b e engaged by the switch handle box. holding the cover in closing position on the box and the switch closed.

A weighted swinging insulating member 30 is'pivotally mounted on a rod 31 mounted in the walls of the box, .which member extends entirely -across the box above the i switch contacts .11 and 'is'provided with a slot 32 through which the switch handle 10 may extendwhen the switch is closed. Af i lug'35 secured to the underside of the cover`1 2 engages the rear part of the member 30 when the cover is closed, and holds the for--V ward end of the member up above-the contacts 11 so that the switch l'knife members 7 contacts.

When the switch is opened and the cover is raised permit access to the switch, the lug dlsengages the" member 30,and the.

forward end. the member drops, under 'the `in'lluence of its weight, down upon the contacts 11 and prevents exposure of the contacts and closing of the switch until the cover is swung closed. When the switch cover is closed the lug 35 engal es and swings er up a ve the, colitacts andallows the switch to be closed.

may be swung down into, or up out of saidl l Upon swinging the handle 10 to open the switch, said handle engages the forward inclined end of the notch 24 and swings the bar 2O on its pivot from under the slot so that the handle may swing through the slot and disen e the end ofthe bar from the lu 26, unldcing the cover 2.

V-hen the cover and switch are closed the bar 20.prevents access through the slot 15v to the live parts of the ASwitch and when the switch and cover are open the member 30 y slotted to slip over the handle ring 17 and whereby the a lock 50 is locked in the ring Switch is locked in open position with the cover in closing position and the parts inclOSBd. v

Having thus described my invention, I

' claim' as new and desire to secure by Lettersv Patent:

1. A device of the 'character described comprising a box;v a 'circuit closer in said box; a cover on said box provided with av slot; said cover being adapted to open when the circuit closer is 1n open position; a handle for actuating said circuit-closer adaptl ed to project through said slot when'the circuit is closed; means forv locking the cover closed on the box when the switch is closed and for closing said slot when the circuit is closed.

2. A device of the character disclosed comprising a box, a circuit closer in said box, a cover on said box, a weighted insulatirg swinging member pivoted in the box and a apted` to cover the, parts of the circuit closer by which the circuit is closed, when the circuit is open, and means on the cover for engaging and swinging said member up when the cover is closed to permit the circuit closer to close. Y

3. A. safety switch comprising asbox, a cover for said box rovided with a slot, a circuit closer in sai box, a handle for operating said circuit closer, said l'handle projectin through said slot, and means positione exteriorly of said `box engaging said handle forlocking the switch open.

4. A safety switch comprising a box2 a cover hinged to said box, said cover being provided with a slot, a circuit closer in said box, a handle for operating Isaid circuit closerrsaid vhandle l.projecting .through said slotfp''when the cover closes said box, and means vpositioned exteriorly of said box engaging said handlefor locking the switch open.

5. A safety coverfor said' boxl, a circuit closer in said box, a handle for operating' said circuit closer,A said handle projecting through said switch comprising a box, a i

box, a handle for operating said circuit closer,l vsaid handle projecting through said slot, contact covering means to prevent; closing of the switch contacts when the switch f and cover are open, means whereby said contact covering means is thrown away from said contacts when said cover 1s closed to permit closing of the switch, and means vfor locking said cover closed and closer open.

v 7. A safety switch comprisin a cover for said box rovided with a slot, a circuit closer in sai box, a handle for operating said circuit-closer, said handle prosaid circuit jecting through said slot, 'a hasp on said cover for engaging said handle when the switch is open, and a lock engaging said handle whereby the switch is locked in open position.

8. A safety switch comprisin a box, a cover for saidbox provided wit a slot, a

circuit closer in vsaid box, an operating han dle -for said circuit closer projecting through said slot, and means operated by said hanbox, a

dle for locking said cover closed when the switch is closed and for closing said slot.

9. A safety switch comprisin a box, a cover` for said box provided wit a` slot, la lcircuit closer for said box, an operating liandle for said circuit closer projecting through said slot, a locking bar pivoted on the'underside of said cover, a lug on the box, and

a part von said bar engaged by said handle when the switch is closed to swing said bar under said lug tolock the cover on the box.

10. A safety switch comprising a box, a cover for said box provided with a slot, a circuit closer in said box, an operating handle for said circuit closer projectingthrough saidislot, a locking bar pivoted on the underside of said cover, a lug on theA box, and a part on saidbar engaged by said handle when the switch is closed to swing said-'bar under said lug and across said' slot to lock said cover closed and to-close said slot.

1'1. A safety vswitch comprising a box, a cover for said box providedwith a slot, a circuit closer in said box, an operating handle projecting through said slot, a 4pin on said handle and an embossment on said cover for engaging said pin to hold the switch closed.

12. A safety switch comprising a box, a cover` for said box provided with a slot, a circuit closer for said box, an operating handle for said circuit closer, projecting through said slot, a locking bar pivoted on the under side of said cover, a lug on the my hand at San Francisco, California, this box, and a part on said bar engaged by said 8th day of March 1917. handle when the switch is closed to swing said bar under said lug to lock the cover on MARTIN FLATLAND' 5 the box, and means Afor holding the switch In presence of closed. v BALDWIN VALE,

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set A. J. HENRY. 

